Extractor for well-plugs



T. P.l SHEAN.

EXTRACTOR FOR wELL PLUGS.

APP

3 L L ff LlCATlON F-ILED MAR. 25, 1918.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920,

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u K i L L 'L L@ l@ IMLr J6 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. i

THOMAS l?. SI-IEAN, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

EXTRACTOR FOR WELL-PLUGS.

Speccatonof Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14., 1920.

Application iled March 25, 1918. Serial No. 224,612.

To all w/zom 'it may concern:

vBe it known that I, Trroinis P. SHEAN, a

`citizen of the United States, residing at .Chi-

cago, in the county ot Cook and State ot Illinois, ha ve invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extractors for Well-Plugs,

f of whichV the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to improvements in well-digging apparatus such as is particularly. concerned with oil and gas operations, Aandis a division ot the subject-matter illus- "trated,l described and claimed in my pending therein. It entails heavy expense on the operator by reason of which it is not an uncommon occurrence 'for well drillers to decline to attempt the removal of such plugs.

The present invention, however, provides "means for accomplishing removal of these 'closure plugs with ease and facility and without vthe loss of the tools employed'in such removal. K

While the foregoing is a general statement of the primary object of the invention, it will be apparent, as thenature ot the improvements is better understood, that other objects are also sought to be accomplished, thenvention consisting in the novel 'features of structure and combination ot parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and iinally pointed out in the appended claims. In this connection it is to be noted that the construction illustrated and described is not to be taken in a limiting sense but as illustrative only of one embodiment of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the herein described extractor in associated relation with a plug to be removed from a well, and illustrating the penetration of the same through the plug; l Fig. 2 is a similar view of the extractor illustrating the relation of the same with the plug after full penetration, together with the position assumed by the parts under which removal of the plug is etlected;

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the extrac-n tor in associated relation with the plug to be f removed, the parts being positioned at right angles to that disclosed in Fig. 2.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 10 designates a bit stock, mounted for rotation by any suitable means, such as an electric motor, said stock being provided at its lower end with a woodauger or bit 11 of any approved iorm which adapts it to bore through the closure plug, designated by the numeral V12. Nithin the 'stock 10 is formed a transverse slot 13 wherein a Tshaped latchfblock 14 is rpivoted at one end of its center of gravity,

as at 15. The length of the latch blockll is greater than the diameter 'of the stockso l that it may project beyond the edgesot' said slot when moved to its latching or locking position, as indicated in F ig. 2. In its normal position, however, it is confined within the slot 13 in the directionot the length ot the slot, as indicated in Fig. 1, the upper wall ot the slot being rabbeted and provided with a socket 16 which receives a spiral yspring 17, the outer' end of said spring abuttingagainst the upper end ofthe latch block 14 and being compressed by the'latter.

Forholding. the spring 17 compressed,'and likewise 4restraining outward. movement 1 of the latchblock V14, an vannular keeper 18 is slidably mounted on the stock 10, 'which keeper normally is ositioned over the upper endy of thelatchblock, as illustratediinlig. 1. But as the stock 10 advances through the plug 12 following penetration of the bit 11, the keeper 18 abuts against the upper end of the plug and is gradually moved away from its restraining position over the latch block. On completion of the passage of the bit through the plug, and the exit of the upper end of the latch block below the lower end of the plug, the spring 17 expands, throwing the latch block to the position shown in Fig. 2 in which position it lies across the lower end of the plug. When, therefore, the apparatus is raised the plug 12 is engaged by the latch block 14 and is moved upwardly thereby through the well and out through its top. The plug 12 may then be readily removed from the stock by sliding the same over the bit 11, the latch block 14 previously having been swung to the position shown in Fig. By moving the keeper 18 again to the positionalso illustrated in Fig. 1, so that the same lies over the upper end of the latch block 14, the spring 17 becomes compressed,

associated with said stock for effecting en-V and the latch block 14 is maintained in restrained position.

I claim:

l. A device of the class described, comprising a stock, cutting means associated therewith, a rigid locking element movably gagement of the latter with the plug to be removed, and means for restraining movement of the locking device, said restraining means comprising a ring slidably mounted with respect to said stock and freely movable to non-restraining position by contact with the `plug during penetration of the device through the plug.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a stock, cutting means associated therewith, a locking element pivotally connected with said stock for eecting engagement of the latter with the plug to be removed, and a freely-movable slidably mounted keeper for restraining movement of the locking device, said keeper being of greater diameter than the cutting element and thereby adapted to be moved to non-restraining position by contact with the plug during Vpenetration of the stock through the plug.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a stock having a slot formed therein, cutting means associated with said stock,

a latch block pivotally mounted at one side` of its center of gravity within said slot for eifecting engagement of the stock with the plug to be removed, said latch block being oit' greater length than the diameter of said stock, whereby its ends will project beyond the sides of the stock when the latch block is moved by gravity to engaging position, andl means for restraining movement of the latch block.

4. A device of the class described, comprising a stock having a slot formed therein,

cutting means associatedv therewith, a T- shaped latch block pivotally mounted 1n said slot at one side 0I" its center of gravity for eecting engagement of the stock with the plug to be removed, said latch block being oit' greater length than the diameter of said stock, whereby the ends of said latch'block will project beyond the sides of the stock when the latch block moves to engaging position, means for restraining movement of the latch block, and means assisting gravity for positioning the latch block for engagement with the nlug when freed from the action of said restraining means.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a stock having a slot formed therein, cutting means associated therewith, av

latch block pivotally mounted at oneside of its center of gravity in said slot for effecting engagement of the stock with the plugk to be removed, said latch block being of greater length than the diameter of 4said stock, wherebyV the ends of said latch block will project beyond the sides of the stock when the latch block moves to engaging position, a spring Within said slot exerting its pressure-against one end of said latch block to throw the latter to engaging position, and a ring surrounding said stock and engaging` the latch block in opposition to the pressure of said spring to restrain movement of said latch block, said ring being released from its engagement with the latch block by contact with the plug and penetration of the stock through the plug. p

In witness whereofl have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. v Y

THOMAS P. SHEAN.

Witnesses: w

WM. NnvARRn CnoMwnLL, MARY C. Browns. 

